Principle in the Habit and Source in the seed and beginning is first given to the Elect in their Regeneration and Conversion to be the original of all actual Graces in them this is called the new creature the new man created after Gods Image the divine Nature the forming of Christ within c. Of this children are capable if they be not of actual Grace which yet seems probable This is inherent Grace in the first principles and Habits thereof both gratis data and gratum faciens in an Orthodox not in a popish sense Secondly Inherent Grace in the Branches and streams in the Acts and Effects in the fruits and progress is variously denominated from the Objects Subjects manner of acting c. it s called faith to express the motion of the renewed soul towards God in Christ upon conjugal terms believing his Truth closing with his Person trusting his Promises depending on his Mercy deriving from his fulness observing him in all things which is called the life of faith It s called Repentance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it turns the whole soul from all sin to God Both in purpose and endeavour through his Spirit this and all other Graces are still concomitants and subsequents of faith in their gradual proportion It s called love to denote the affectionate embracing of God in Christ and in his people for Christs sake as the most amiable object It s called obedience as it acts the whole man to a free and full compliance with Gods Will revealed in his Word It s called Thankfulness as it affects the heart with the sense of Mercy received It s called self-denial as it moves the soul to prefer Christ before all things else and part with any thing for his sake It s termed Patience in regard of sorrowfull evils which it learns to bear submissively It s named humility with respect to its low thoughts of self submitted still to Christ It s nominated Temperance in regard of its care to avoid all excessive use of Creatures It s termed Zeal as it moves with fervour for good against evil It s termed Justice or Righteousness in respect of its readiness to give every one their due It s called Prudence as it regards all due means tending to right ends It s termed Wisdom as it s acquainted with the best things in their nature cause and end Thus Grace inherent hath its various appellations and distinctions both habitually and actually being the Grace properly meant in the Text as being that Grace which is capable of Growth The Knowledge of Christ is taken also in a sense more large or more strict 1. LArgely and commonly for a notional Knowledge void of saving Faith and Love such as puffs up an empty Brain 2. Strictly and specially for that saving applicative knowledge which includes all Grace by an elegant Hebraism verbs of sense and knowledge signifying both affectum effectum Natural knowledge of things is acquired by sense Reason or Authority Thus in spirituals this knowledge of Christs is spiritually sensible and rationally fiducial Its a conjugal knowledge which implies 1. Apprehension of the Truth of Christs proper Object 2. Credit and Assent thereto upon his divine Authority 3. Personal consent and particular Applications in mutual Acception and Reciprocation Grace and Knowlede in the Text may be understood 1. Distinctly Conjunctly 1. DIstinctly shewing the excellent Worth and needfull use of every Grace and of the knowledge of Christ 2. Conjunctly by a figure called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace and Knowledge signifies gracious Knowledge as in that like phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grace and Apostleship for gracious Apostleship So the sense will be very emphatical suiting our purpose in characterizing this excellent Jewel so singularly transcendent beyond all other This precious Jewel is curiously set out in the golden ring of divine Records where you find it held forth in its radient Lustre whose glorious beams may be contracted for our clearer apprehension into plain description you may then observe it to be a conjugal acquaintance with Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour wrought in Gods Elect by the special operation of his renewing Spirit and effectually improved to Gods honor and mans good in every Relation toward God and Man This is the choice Jewel whose eminent worth hath been in all ages so incomparably prized by the Word and friends of God Every Page of Scripture sets forth the peculiar Eminency thereof every precept and Promise every prefiguration and Prophesie every President and performance points unto this This was under the Old Testament more ceremonially vailed and under the New is more Evangelically Revealed This is the centre wherein all the Lines of Scripture do meet All the Patriarchs aimed still at this Abraham saw his day and rejoiced Davi◠is full of it Job was divinely advised to such an Acquaintance as to the source and sum of all good Paul accounted all loss and dung in comparison of this excellent Knowledge and rationally determined to know nothing else Peter sums all up in this Good Reason for it if we consider the Object and subject the cause and Nature the property and effect thereof which are all hinted in the former Description Reason 1. The proper Object adequate of this gracious Knowledge is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ a singular Jewel indeed in every consideration The Paramount and Non-such the chiefest of ten thousand both in his Person and Office in his progress and Purchase in his Relation and Influence 1. The Person of Christ is a noble Paragon considered as God as Man as God-man 1. CHrist is God blessed for ever the eternal Son of his eternall Father co-essential and co-equal with him the the Brightness of his Glory and the express Image or Character of his Person in whom dwells the fulness of the Godhead 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 substantially and bodily the only begotton of the Father full of Grace and Truth essentially one with the Father though personally distinct by an eternal Generation unutterable to man firmly to be believed on Gods Testimony and piously adored not curiously pried into The wonderful Wisdom of the Father who was his Delight before Time by whom in time he made the world and upholds all by the word of his power Essentially he is God of himself Personally God the Son of God the Father His proper Name is the Word of God the Wonderful Councellor the Father of Eternity He that doth what ever the Father doth and to be worshipped as the Father is worshipped He that sends the Spirit from the Father who being in the form and substance of God thought it no robbery to be equal with God To him be glory for ever Amen 2. Christ as Man is the Rare Object of this Knowledge For the word was made flesh and dwelt among
any of his By his own example and Command he hath directed us to seek the things that make for Peace wherein we may edifie one another Convulsions in his Members are most direful and dangerous Symptoms proceeding from ill humors vapors and Spirits Whilst the Limbs fall a jarring the body must needs decay That Wisdom from beneath which cherishes contentions and envy is sensual and devilsh The Devil hath no better sport then in such troubled waters These Confusions of Tongue become Babylon better then Zion Must not the stones of Gods Temple be proportionably squared and fitted to each other that his Sanctuary may be erected Should not they that believe in one God are saved by one Christ justified by one faith acted by one Spirit sealed by one baptism supported by one hope and ruled by one Lord walk in one Love also and be shod with the preparation of the Gospel of Peace There is too much of hell fire in unchristian Combustions Such ignes fatui and cheating Meteors lead many to destruction Do not such wandring stars and blazing Comets manifest divine wrath and portend woful Judgements If our Light and fire burn better then anothers have we not cause to be more thankful and communicative What have we that we have not received to impart to others Are not the strong bid to bear with the weak and not please themselves Our Neighbours good is co-ordinate still with our own Interest for we should love our Neighbour as our selves Is not this Jewel a very precious one which is of such Import to the benefit of all Reason 4. The Nature of this gracious Knowledge doth further demonstrate its Excellency There are three special parts that do make it up being the choice Ingredients thereof Apprehension Assent and Application 1. APprehension of the matter understood is found in every kind of knowledge specially in this A view of Christs Beauty and Excellency is taken by the mind thus spiritualized The lively picture of Christs al-sufficiency is drawn in his Gospel by the pencil of his own Spirit The Lord himself opens his very Bowels to the Prospect of his peoples eyes therein Is not this a precious sight indeed to behold such a Saviour in all his proportions Doth not the sensible sight of our vileness and sinfulness recommend such a merciful Redeemer to our apprehension Can we behold our own wretchedness Insufficiency and unworthiness and thence cast a glance on his sutable and sure Redemption without admiration Doth not the survey of divine fulness thus exposed to view exalt the Lord Christ above all other Lovers Are not all his royal perfections a magnificent sight to a gracious Soul Can there be any thing more swett and stately 2. Assent and Credit to the Truth apprehended attends this knowledge in a singular way The God of Truth bespeaks this Assent by the word of Truth Salvation by Christ alone for true Believers upon conjugal terms is the sum thereof He that believes his Testimony hath set to his seal that God is true divine Authority gaining thus credit to his Assertion sways the Judgement to reason the case and cast its resolve upon Christs side Divine reason then perswades mans Reason that such a Christ is worth the accepting upon his own Terms The soul thereby judges all capitulations and Reservations to be sinfull dreadfull irrational Mans reason is then brought over to such a subjection as Christs reason demands without delaies or exceptions It sees that in Christ which is better then All and suits its wants in every part thereof It sees no help from any creature to be looked for and judges all to be but vanity and Lyes that hinders from Christ The soul then learns feelingly to cry None but Christ none but Christ as the Martyr did with due conviction of sin and righteousness in order to Judgement through the Spirits help The soul thus weary both of self and sin readily assents to that truth of God which presents Christ for a faithful and loving Husband for Saviour and Lord And is not this of singular worth Thirdly Application and hearty consent is the main ingredient of all conjugal Knowledge especially of this The soul is hereby effectually yielded into Christs own hand upon his own terms The Will in this Act accepts of Christ and renders up it self to his disposal Conjugal Acception is thus reciprocated that the whole man may yield unto him all loyal obedience of Faith and Love This great wheel thus moved all the Affections turn accordingly Christ ward heaven-ward that before still moved self-ward and earth-ward The soul being thus surrendred to Christ depends on him and derives from him still Grace for Grace All other things then become serviceable to the honor and service of Christ This Marriage-union brings with it a free and full a singular and sure Communion Then saith the soul My Beloved is mine and I am his I have all from him and all for him all in him and all through him And is not this a very rare Jewel that makes a match between Heaven and Earth Is not this Knowledge of singular worth that marries sinfull man to God Almighty Is not this thing of a rare value whose nature appears so supereminent Reason 5. The Properties of this Knowledge do much commend its excellency also They are expressed by a pregnant word full of sense and vertue being called a gracious knowledge 1. IN regard of Gods favouring Grace whence it flows which it manifests and whither it leads The glory of divine Grace doth so admirably and so wonderfully shine forth therein that its preciousness is as remarkable as the Noon-Sun in a Summer-day 2. In respect to his renewing Grace this knowledge is truly and incomparably gracious being attended with all the gracious Train and fruits of Christs Spirit So far as the Lord is duly known by his people so far is this knowledge attended with a proportionable measure of saving Grace 1. It s a fiducial knowledge that knows Christ with conjugal faith discerning of him looking up to him closing with him following after him trusting in him feeding upon him drawing all from him and returning all to him 2. It s a loving knowledge that embraces Christs love and retaliats Love for Love loving his person first and then his goodness That soul that knows Christ loves him sincerely and self-denyingly fervently and constantly That soul hears and speaks prays and acts in love to him loving his Word and ways his name and honor his service and servants out of Love to him That soul for his sake loves his Saints with a Love of delight and sinners with a Love of pitty The more she knows of him the more is her heart melted into his heart to be cast into the mold of his Love What 's recorded of famous Ignatius
Christs officers must do it authoritatively ex officio Governers of societies must instruct their Inferiors with civil Authority these with Ecclesiastical Thus it was of old by Gods appointment the Levits were to teach in all their Cities Thus it s still in Gospel-days in this and other points by the same Authority The very light of nature hath taught all Nations in all times and places to set some apart for a sacred use who should officially act between God and man None so barbarous but do acknowledge a supream Deity and highly esteem of sacred persons solemnly consecrated to him Heathens observe this as well as Christians finding absolute need and choice use thereof Satan indeed still appears Gods Ape in counterfeiting ridiculously and impiously Gods pure worship by gaudy traditions and innnovations of multiplicious sorts among all nations That his malice and desperate rage to spoile the best things and do most mischief by such corruptions Vse 2. IT should convince negligent Christians that will neither take warning nor keep themselves from such a danger Is not such a felo de se much to be blamed Is not this evil very sad and common they must thank themselves that contract deadly diseases through-wilful carelesness If people will run to infected places and persons they are like to smart Errors are most catching in this Back-sliding generation It s one of its characteristical Notes given by Christ himself Floods of Heresies the Dragon of old spued out of his mouth against the Church in her flight and is not he doing the like again upon her Return Is it not a dreadful sin to tempt the Devil that he may tempt us Is it not woful to see so many embrace such palpable Delusions The Lord awaken them that sleep so securely when destruction is so neer at hand He that being often warned hardens his heart still shal surely and suddenly perish Spiritual Judgements are the worst of all which give up so many to brutish senslesness and usher in stil temporal judgements The seven Asian Churches and all those flourishing Societies in Europe Africa and Asia both Major and Minor were made sad Monuments of such Divine Justice They slighted warnings given them from Heaven by word and Providence and were suasively exposed to the Rage of Sarracens and Turks Tartars and Parthians Persians and Infidels under which they do remain to this day Iim and Jiim Satyrs and Devils are now howling there where so many famous Churches resounded aloud the praises of Christ Go to that Shiloh and to the Jewish that you may behold with a bleeding heart and Relenting Bowels the direful fruits of slighting warning and pampering Errors 3. Bring our case to the Test have we learned to act as becomes Christians do we take warning do we keep our selves from Error and Revolt Is it our desire to be admonished Do we delight in the means of prevention Is it our purpose to avoid the snares Do we endeavour with diligence the use of all fit means to keep our selves and others Are we convinced of our former neglects Have we been humbled for our many Revolts Do we smite on our thigh as Ephraim did because we have born the reproach of our youth Do we make it our work with all diligence and delight personally thus to keep our selves and Relatively to keep those about us and under us through the Lords help Do we improve our time and strength our skil and credit our utmost endeavours to prevent and remove the Errors of the wicked Are we studious of that signal charge given and renewed unto all Gods people with so much of power and caution again and again The Cananites and Tories of our hearts are stil remaining as pricks in our eyes and thorns in our sides external enemies are multiplicious stil to ensnare us into Satans crooked paths Do we earnestly redouble our watch and Guard against such eminent dangers 4. Be stirred up to take and improve warning 1. Take good warning and refuse it not ye that incline to Error and Backsliding The Lord speaks to you as he did to Ephesus and Sardis Remember whence you are fallen and Repent Have you sucked poison at unaware Be perswaded by your Physitians to see your danger and take good Physick Will not you give your watchmen the hearing on the descry of a dreadful enemy Doth it not concern you to mind your Shepheards Voice that warns against the Wolves and Foxes What if they be disguised under sheeps cloathing Are you like to be the safer or will you be the less vigilant It s your mercy that God bears yet with you he will not alwayes bear after many warnings he will strike at last if you stil refuse the things of your peace they shal at last be hid from your eyes Be not like Jerusalem in sin least ye be like her in sorrow also The Lord took much pains by the former and later Prophets all his fore-Runners to awaken them Himself in person came to them at last but they would not hear Therefore came wrath on them to the utmost Doth not he warn you for your good Should not self-interest move you if the publick do not Will you gallop stil towards your own Ruin You will repent it when it may be too late Is there no spark of Ingenuity left Hath Satan robbed you of your Religion and Reason at once Bruits will take warning are you worse then they Have you been so deeply baptized into the spirit of Error as to loose your Sense Wit and good manners Do not ye see so many before you going up the steps of the Devils Ladder to execution Are your eyes quite out that you cannot discern the issue of all your High-flown Notions Have not the Seekers and familistical Revelationists turned to Levelling Ranting and Quaking Is not James Nayler with his prodigious crue a fair warning to each of those that slight the publike Ordinances of Christ to follow their fancies in private Cannot ye discern yet that one Error will lead unto more one separation from the good old way will usher in another til you come step by step to the devils bottom Ask then at last enquire for the good old way the new and living way that you may walk and find peace therein 2. Improve the Warning and abuse it not Learn to keep your selves from backsliding Errors Shew your Christian care in all due means appointed by him Personally and Relatively 1. Personally Look well to your own souls Beware of Error in its first motions Mind your Guards slight not your watch in the several sorts of your internal man Keep well the out-works of your external senses Learn with Job to make a covenant with them Observe well the In-work of your Imagination that it be well kept and fortified against the black Regiments of Hell Let not your Phansie
A bare external painted form they have a shel of duty and carkass of Religion but without the Life and inward vigour Such are Pharisaical monkish Hypocrites varnished potsheards garnished Sepulchres Christ was troubled with such and so are we still Profession is grown into fashion shifted by many as men shift their cloaths They make use of God to serve their own turn and enjoy their Lust Such are on a round of duty like a Mill-horse in a course perfunctorily Religionis their task and Burthen They post from one Ordinance to another as to a stage longing to be rid of their trouble Used to a Road as a Carriers horse they carry their Load and take their turns But this gracious knowledge they are strangers to Their worship is much like the mongrel Samaritans that knew the Lord in a mixt formal way but knew him not aright Is not this a woful condition thinkest thou to baffle Christ thus Will this foppish way of dead performances be pleasing to him who is a Spirit and will be worshipped in spirit and Truth Did not Paul himself see the vanity of his utmost Pharisaical holiness wherein he rested before his conversion Hast thou not much more need to bewail thy coldness and deadness thy cursoriness and heartlesness A sacrifice without a heart was alwayes ominous as it proved among the Romans Wilt thon put off God as Heathens serve their Idols with a liveless worship If thou offer the lame and the torn is it not evil How far art thou from knowing of Christ that knowest not thy self but art well conceited of thy good meaing and thy good Duties Who hath required these things at thy hand Will not the Lord rebuke thee as he did Israel in the like case 4. It justly reproves the Justitiary Legalist that seems exact in his way of good works and rests thereon He is not so bad as the worst and therefore thinks himself as good as the best His seeming Justice equity and charity beguiles him as much as the Formalists painted holiness He hopes to be saved by his good Deeds and good Intentions as the Papists do thinking that Christ will make up for him what is defective Alas wretched soul wilt thou patch up thus a Linsey Woolsey Garment of thy own Righteousness mingled with Christs Merits Will thy fig-leaves cover thy nakedness Will thy crack'd peny make amends to God for millions of pounds due to him from thee Canst thou do any thing without sin Art thou not bound to be wholly his Canst thou satisfie his Infinite Justice or deserve his Infinite Mercy Did Christ merit that thou mightest merit Is he a Remote Saviour that thy self mightst be thine immediate Saviour Canst thou climbe to Heaven with a Ladder of thy making or waft thy self over into the Indie's in thy own Nut-shel of self-Righteousness Civil morality is good in it self but not to Justifie thy person as a piece of brass is good for something but not to pass for Gold nor to pay an Infinite ransom God gives indeed a Reward to his according to their works but not for their works sake Thou canst not be saved without good works and yet not by works If thou knewest Christ graciously thou wouldst know thy self to be unworthy and insufficient still See thy folly and thy misery in trusting to self thou loosest and slightest the only Pearl of Price 5. This point casts a very ghastly glance upon all profane licentious persons that turn Christs grace into wantonness and delight in a sinful Liberty Consider it thou Swearer and drunkard thou Lyar and unclean wretch thou scoffer and malicious thou proud and wanton thou slanderer and riotous Liver Why dost thou profess the Knowledge of Christ to abuse him thus Art not thou much worse then Pilate or Judas then the Jewes and Romanes in affronting and murthering of Christ Dost thou not give him ten blows for one good word destroying thy self in disgracing him Dost thou presume on his mercy still whilst thou delightest in the Devils work Doth the Name and Baptism of Christ give thee a Protection from Divine Justice whilst thou remainest still in open Rebellion Dost thou hope still to pacifie him with a few faint words of Lord hove mercy I am sorry and such like mock-speeches Is Repentance in thy own power or thy Life and Means that still thou puttest off Wilt thou lay the whole Burthen on the tyred horse and wave returning till thy elder age Wilt thou give Satan the creame and Christ the Refuse of thy time and strength Canst thou hope for Christs Salvation in the high Road to thy damnation Wilt thou still delight in the Devils work and yet hope for wages from Heaven Is not thy case very desperate to follow the Devil into every sin Couldst thou but see thy Infernal Guide that leads thee captive at his will what a dreadful sight would that prove to thee Hast thou lived so long under the Gospel as the Smiths Dog under the Anvil to deafen and harden thee Will not thy later end prove most desperate that hast made so much haste in the broad way to Hell If Grace prevent not miraculously thou shalt know that Christ to thy confusion whom thou wouldst not know to thy conversion 6. This Truth looks wishly on carnal Notionists who pretend much to the Knowledge of Christ and yet remain destitute of his Grace They have learned to prate about Christ and to use his Name for a Sanctuary to sin From vain Notions they speedily run into vile affections and their devotion lies most in their fancy Their Tongue is tipped with the Language of Canaan to deceive the simple in deceiving themselves This age abounds with such the Lord awaken them who are lulled asleep in the Devils Lap. Alas wretched soul what will be thy end and what is thy case in such delusions If thy head swel much with giddy Notions doth it not betoken a woful disease Whither will Satan transformed into an Angel of Light lead thee at the last How sad is it thus to poyson thy self so many more in mingling fancies with Gods holy Word perverted by thee to dream thy self into a fools Paradise whilst thou slightest Christ his Ordinances how woful is it Thou playest like a Gnat and Moth about the Candle till thou be consumed by the heat thereof Golden Imaginations do tickle thy thoughts whilst Satan is leading thee captive at his Will Are not such spiritual Judgements the worst of all to be given up thus to strong delusions to believe such Lies Is it not because thou receivest not the Truth in the Love of it that God gives thee up to thy own hearts Lusts How far art thou from a gracious knowledge that turnest his Grace into wantonness Didst thou know Christ
aright thou wouldst know thy self better and wouldst see thy new pretended Light to be but old darkness Thy pretence of Christs name will do thee little good whilst thou slightest his Word and Ways his Sabbath and Worship his Service and Saints Satan may cease troubling of thee and fill thee with false joyes but thy carnal Raptures will soon end in wo like the crackling of Thorns 2. The most gracious may find just cause from this very point to humble and judge themselves for the remaining of so much sin in them The most are totally guilty and the best in part of too much darkness and dulness selfishness and sinfulness against this precious Jewel That Christ is no better known unto thee after so much of his glorious discoveries what a shame is it that there is yet so little of Grace and so much of corruption in us should it not deeply humble us that we savour so much of self and so little of Christ Is it not matter of sad lamentation that Christ should be slighted and abused forgotten and forsaken in such a manner by his very Friends Is it not wofull The more precious Christ is unto us the more vile shall we be to our selves Saith not Christ to us as David his Type to his bosom friend that wretched Anitophel Is it not dreadfull to be abused by our nearest and dearest relations Hadst thou struck thy best friend in the dark on mistake how would it break thy heart 3. This Truth will afford a needfull Test for a due examination Hence may we trie our state personal and publique to frame a Prognostick of our hopes and fears In this ballance of the Sanctuary our case should be weighed Deceit is common and very dreadfull False Christs and false Prophets variously delude themselves and others too Bring then all to Gods Touch. 1. By the due review and application of all the former particulars do we know Christ thus in his person and office in his Progress and Purchase in his Relation and Influence Are we the subjects so wrought upon by him Are we thus acquainted with the cause and nature with the properties and effects of this gracious knowledge Are we not still in that unregenerate state of reigning Ignorance and neglect of formality and self justifying of profaness or notional delusions Is the spiritual Change yet wrought within us by the special hand of Christs renewing Spirit Our nature of it self is as bad as the worst Is it now savingly transformed in the Spirit of our mind How far is this change wrought in our selves and others mind it exactly by the standard of Truth 2. How this Change was wrought is as considerable What Method and Means did Gods Spirit use and in what manner did he prevail with us Were we effectually convinced by him of sin and Righteousness Were we made to see the worst of our selves that we might embrace the best of Christ Have we felt at the heart such a clear discovery of our emptiness and sinfulness of our Wretchedness and Unworthiness of our Insufficiency and nothingness as to be wholly weaned from self and carried out to him Have we duly observed the unability of all Creatures to afford us help Hath the sight and sense of our wofull state so opposite to God made Christ truly precious to our souls Are we more troubled at the pollution then at the punishment of sin Doth it grieve us to the very soul that we have grieved such a dear Saviour Have we beheld our state in the Glass of his Law and of his Gospel to make us sensible efficaciously both of our Malady and of his Remedy Hath he made his Word so to work on us as to break our hearts and melt them kindly Have we found that hammer and fire of his killing our sins and quickning our souls Hath he made us thereby cheerfully willing to give up all to him and prefer him above all Hath he blessed the means so effectually as to make us feel him in and through them all Hath he made every sin more bitter to our Taste then ever we found any sweetness therein Hath he knockâ—d us off from all other props that we might rest upon him alone 3. Consider also how this Change works now to clear this Inquiry with impartiality Doth his holy Spirit operate on us by this gracious knowledge as the Soul doth upon the Body through its variety of intermediate Spirits Observe it we may in the resemblance of that three-fold Life which mans soule doth communicate to its proper subject A vegetative a sensitive a rational Life is afforded thereby Doth Christ do so to us spiritually 1. A Vegetative Life is for Nutrition Augmentation and Propagation 1. FOR Nutrition whereto serve the several faculties attractive and retentive concoctive and expulsive Doth this knowledge of Christ act thus within us 1. Do we draw and attract spiritual nourishment to the supply of our renewed wants Do we suck his breasts as new born babs and desire that food that may sustain us to eternal Life Is it done in season and order in quantity and quality meet 2. Do we retain and keep the same with all diligence lest at any time we should let it slip Is it laid up in our hearts and industriously kept that it may keep us 3. Do we concoct and digest it well by spiritual fervour to be distributed unto every part Do we shun and abhor Crudities Cloyings and Oppressions that might hinder it 4. Do we expel all sinfull Excrements that continually do breed within us Do we loath detest and cast out duly all filthiness of flesh and Spirit and all superfluity of naughtiness from every part of us 2. For Augmentation Is our spiritual Life like the natural still upon increase spreading it self into every part that our growth may be proportional universal and perpetual Doth this knowledge dilate all faculties in Mind and Judgement Reason and Conscience Will and Affections 3. For Propagation Doth our spiritual Life as the natural labor still to beget in us and produce in others more fruits of the Spirit more issues of Grace to perpetuate this divine off-spring Is nothing more active and communicative Doth it diffuse its species round about as being the Issue and Image of him who is the chief and most communicative good 2. A sensitive Life is for Sense Motion and Appetite so it our spiritual Life Doth Christ do so to us spiritually 1. Doth he give us Sense external and internal as in Nature so in Grace 1. External Sense is five-fold by Sight and Hearing Smelling Taste and Touch. 1. DO we spiritually discern and delight in the Beauty of Christs divine holiness in all his perfections in all his Ordinances and in every Providence Do we thereby see all other things and reflect on
to him and delight in him thy design for him and endeavour after him If so thy fear is the fruit of his Spirit so far as it drives thee not from him but draws thee to him Answ 3. What makes thee complain of thy Ignorance Is it not thy esteem of the Knowledge of Christ Art thou weary and ashamed of thy Ignorance Art thou still wrastling against it for attaining of Knowledge Ar thou diligent in all the means he affords thee to dispel darkness and get light from him Dost thou bewail thy deadness and dulness thy sloth and selfishness thy formality and hypocrisie thy worldliness and unfaithfulness Is it thy greatest trouble and grief thy shame and sorrow Dost thou act the more humbly and self-denyingly the more watchfully and industriously in thy general and particular calling If so the comfort is thine and thou wilt know it in the best time Answ 4. There are divers degrees in the school of Christ and divers manners of his dealing with his Disciples Thou must not measure thy condition by others so much as by his Rule The least degree of his Grace deserves thanks though we must not rest there There are many little weaklings in his house which must not be slighted nor mis-judged of because they are not so strong and healthy as others The smoaking flax and the bruised Reed are neither to be quenched nor broken in his House till he bring forth Judgement into victory according to Truth Vse 5. This point should be improved in a pressing Exhortation to all Nominal and real Christians Doth it not concern every sort of men to look after such a singular Jewel Doth any need Incentives to move thereto Is there not matter enough already expressed to inflame all our hearts after it Is not this knowledge the most profitable the most pleasurable the most honourable that can be conceived Is it not still of absolute need and singular use Is any good to be had any evil to be avoided without it Is not this the Field that holds the Treasure and the Pearl of Price Doth it not bewray an ignoble spirit to neglect and slight it Is not this Jewel the Quintessence of Good that will sanctifie all conditions to any of us Be we all pressed then to make it our business to look after it as the wise Merchant after the Pearl of Price he seeks and finds it he sels all for Joy and buys it out right Do you so likewise that you may be enriched thereby Two sorts are specially invited hereto the Nominal and real Christian 1. THe Nominal Christian that hath but the Name without the Grace of Christ Sinners of all sorts still unregenerate are comprized here Such of all Ranks are called to Christ though they will hardly give him the hearing We speak to all indefinitely Christs Spirit will speak to his peculiarly We offer to you a singular Jewel to be obtained upon Christs own terms Come and view it well turn it every way there is no blemish in any part thereof Doth any of you see the worth thereof Be then willing also to part with all for it Thy natural sinful and Religious self thou must deny that Christ may be thine The destruction of thy sinful self is the only way to thy salvation Thy sin is thy disease thy poison and plague art thou unwilling to be rid of it Thy natural self will be bettered by putting of it into his keeping who will be sure to mend it for thee Thy Religious self in thy best duties cannot be useful but by being put into Christs own hand But where is the Price to buy it withal It s in Christs Treasury not thine own Thy souls empty hand must be reached forth to receive at once the Price and the Pearl Come to Christ then that thou maist get Christ and through his Spirit maist close with his Father The worst of thy sins shall not keep thee off when thou once comest on conjugal Terms Wilt thou be moved thereto cordially Hear the Embassy sent to thee from Heaven We are Embassadors for the King of Saints to beseech sinners to be reconciled Consider how much is laid up in this to draw home thy soul most effectually Mind then 1. The Person offering the Lord of Glory thy Soveraign the Almighty God All-sufficient Saviour provoked by thee to the utmost that needs thee not and can in a moment crush thee to nothing It s the God of all Grace full of mercy and Truth the Fountain of all good most precious most sweet a most suitable match wilt thou refuse him 2 The matter offered is the only Jewel the sum of all Good God himself to be thy portion fulness of Grace to pardon and purge to quicken and save Treasures of mercy most free and full most singular and sure it s a match with Heaven an extract of Blessings suiting thy state most exactly Here is Wisdom to teach Righteousness to absolve Holiness to renew Redemption to save thee what can thy heart wish that is not laid up here Wilt thou refuse it yet 3. Mind his manner of offering with intreaties and Invitations He waits he knocks he expostulates again and again Mercy kneels to thee beseeching pleading tendring all with open arms bearing with thee forbearing of thee attempting all means of doing thee good Should not this prevail 4. Consider the Person offered to thy wretched self a forlorn sinner a Rebel in Arms a desperate enemy full of Venom and deadly poison a miserable worm sinful dust a Traitor at the Bar under condemnation an abuser of every favor unworthy of the least good a vile Bankrupt a riotous Prodigal utterly undone a starving beggar a drowning wretch a servant of sin a slave of Hell Satans prisoner empty of all good full of all evil Is not this thy picture thy name and state and ten thousand times worse What madness keeps thee from coming to him that would help all this Quest What if I come not Answ Then will thy case prove despenate indeed Justice will speedily send thee to thy place Infinite wrath shall be thy portion thou shalt fare worse then Sodom and Gomorrah in endless easeless remediless Torments All thy mercies shal prove thy Judgements thy own conscience shall be thy witness Recorder Judge and Executioner This very Word shal rise against thee and stop thy mouth to eternity Thou wast fair offered once and wilt know it when the time is past Quest What if I come Answ Then thy case is happy all good is thine thou shalt be as welcom as the lost Son to thy Fathers arms meeting thee half way with Tears with joy with a feast with a royal Robe Thou shalt be married to the Kings own son and Heaven shall rejoyce at the Repentance of such a sinful wretch Object But I doubt I am not elected and then all is in
By his Spirit he draws home his Elect from among the rest to a conjugal acquaintance with himself This gracious knowledge is to be improved for a singular Antidote against sinfull Errors It hath appeared to be so in all ages and will still be so upon solid grounds which divine Reason suggests to us Reason 1. Because it removes and prevents the causes thereof External and Internal The cause removed the Effect will cease 1. THE External Causes called evident among Physicians are all such as from without endanger men as ill Company Disorders Infection Wounds c. from Sin and Satan thus spiritually many external causes do still assault us which the knowledge of Christ prevents and removes A well grown Christian hath his senses exercised to discern aright between good and evil The spiritual man judges of all things comparing of them spiritually He is not easily caught into the snare but wisely foresees it and escapes He believes not every Spirit but tries them all by the Lords Touch-stone He is forewarned and forearmed still against Infectious Temptations of all sorts 2. Internal Causes are either Antecedent and remote or continent and proxime which are bred within by congestion and defluxion of several ill humors putrifying gradually and variously to the distempering of the several parts and of the whole also Thus sinfull Corruption doth spiritually disorder mens souls Spiritual Growth affords Christs own help to the purging out of such ill Humors Vapors and Spirits It kils the worms takes away stoppages cleanses the parts by all convenient helps internal and external It purges the whole and then the parts in a due Method using revulsions and derivations with all sort of evacuations So far as Grace is grown up within by the knowledge of Christ so far is corruption purged out gradually He that knows him purifies himself even as he is pure Christs own Physick dispenced daily in his Word and Providence is through his Spirit improved that way He that is born of God doth not so sin as he did before neither can he so sin either totally or finally because the seed of God abides in him As he finds corruption breeding afresh within it s his desire and design his delight and labor to crush the Cockatrice in the shell and suppress the first beginnings He hath a tender heart sensible of the first stirs of the least vain thoughts and keeps himself that the evâ—l one touch him not as before Reason 2. Because it corroborates and fortifies the noble parts and thereby all the rest against all internal Corruptions and outward Temptations Thus health and strength are procured and improved against the malignity of all spiritual distempers Corroboration is a singular help as in the bodies so in the Souls of men against all diseases Ill Humors do leave in the parts affected an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Discomposure which enfeebles it and by a ferment and a sickly Spawn makes it prone to new disorders Error and Sin work in the like manner upon mens souls striking chiefly at the Vitals and Chief The knowledge of Christ duly improved doth orderly eradicate and extirpate it by Communication of his divine strength to vivification of every Grace and Mortification of the old man in all its Members The more a soul lives in him and by him the more of his renewed Supports and supplies come in which compose the Christian into spiritual health rectifying every part All the faculties are secured and fortified thereby against Relapses and struglings of sin Such can do all things through Christ strengthning them The sense of their own insufficiency drives them still to his Al-sufficiency that his Grace may be sufficient for them and his Vertue perfected in weakness Reason 3. Because it derives still a specifick Vertue out of Christ himself whose Soveraign Property mingled with all due means of his appointing affords still a sure Preservative Physicians observe the specifick Vertue of natural Medicines simple and compound which renders the whole effectual towards bodily cures Such a signally peculiar force is found in the Lords choice Antidote dispensed to his Patients The knowledge of Christ duly improved fetches out of him that wonderfull Grace which he mingles with all the Medicines appointed for their good His Blood is that Aurum potabile and Panpharmacum that Catholicon and Elixer of Life which sanctifies all things effectually to his Peoples good The more any soul grows up into acquaintance with him the more use is made of that Soveraign Balm of Gilead flowing from the Physicians very heart The Pelican is said to cure his little ones with his own blood Christ to be sure makes this good to his His Grace is the Basis of every Dose of every Topick of every means appointed by him The strongest poison is quelled thereby the stoutest humors are subdued the sorest obstructions are removed and the worst Maladies cured by the same He healed all manner of diseases and sicknesses among the people in their bodies and souls in his progress on earth and he doth so still by his Spirit from heaven His Word and Ordinances are the proper means used by him for application thereof He employes his servants of the Magistracy and Ministry to observe his will in the right use thereof by all fit helps Spiritual and Civil His Providence points out the case to be dealt with all spiritual skil Our Antidote improved affords every Christian to manage all aright His special Blessing he affords in all according to Promise The Reason is good make good use of it Vse 1. Corollar 1. Hence may we view the Ground and Cure of our spiritual Distempers in all Relations 1. THE Ground is much from want of spiritual Growth in the best as from want of Life in most Were Christ known to better purpose both Church and State would not be so sickly But the most are ignorant of him and the best much too blame Thence so many diseases and sores in all Relations and Societies Every Person every Family finds cause to complain because the Lord Christ is so much slighted No wonder if the sickness increase and the venom spreads when such a Physician with his Antidote are so basely used Wise men easily see whence this evil comes and is aggravated Gross wilfull unbelief is the forest disease that aggravates the case making it desperate This was the case of Gods people of old in the wilderness and Canaan again and again They slighted Christ and his Messengers till they were grown beyond all Remedy It may give us warning 2. The Cure and Method of Relief is hence observable the Lord hath not left us yet remediless There is Balm in Gilead and a Physician there with Soveraign Vertue to cure
thus 1. Prize it undervalue it not consider its worth and singular use It s Christ himself with his saving Grace that is to be duly known and improved Let no creature then come into competition Christ will endure no Corrival nor Superiour Let not any darling sin be cherished now to undervalue Christ If he be not infinitely better mind him not at all if he be mind him above all 2. Desire it disdain it not So lovely so needful an Object should set all your Affections on flames You have disdained him too long already is it not high time to long for him to breath and pant till you obtain him What would a dying man give for a sure cure a condemned man for a pardon a drowning man for help Let your heart give that and all to this Christ 3. Embrace it reject it not accept of him if you love your self upon his own Terms If you capitulate or reserve any thing Christ will none of you This offer may be your last Let your whole soul now close freely with him in a Conjugal way by mutual consent Receive and Take that you may be One and may know him thus and your self aright 4. Insure it neglect it not you have his Insuring Office to make all clear and firm His Spirit within by his privy Seal his Sacraments and Ordinances without by a broad Seal ratifie his gracious Covenant Observe and grieve not that Spirit of Adoption that must witness within by evidencing Grace and operate without in all the means of Grace for the Obsigation and security of your Interest 5. Keep it los it not so Rare a Jewel so choice an Antidote should be laid up with all possible care Precious stones are found to be specifick Cordials against various diseases and poisons This choisest Jewel should be chiefly set in the Golden Ring of a gracous soul to be worn and kept against all danger Beware of sullying breaking and hurting so curious a Piece 6. Improve it abuse it not This precious knowledge was never intended to feed vain Notions or vile Affections but to fence you against every evil and help you effectually to all true good Improve it therefore unto such Ends wherein you may be sure of Gods Blessing There was never more need of such an Antidote to preserve Christians from Epidemical sins This gracious Knowledge of Christ well improved hath vertue enough to fortifie you against all the Wiles of the wicked and all the deceits of your sinful hearts make use of it then against every Temptation and corruption especially against Errour the woful disease of this sinful Age There was never more need of Christs help against so many unclean spirits ensnaring many simple hearts Prudence and Zeal are here most needful to discern aright of persons and things Some good men are drawn in on mistakes as the four hundred that followed Absalom in their simplicity Some Errors are more superficial wherein Christians must bear with each other walking together as far as they agree waiting for the Lords further discovery Many Errors are so fundamental that they are inconsistent with the hope of Salvation and must be earnestly contended against by due improvement of this Antidote all of them militate against Christ either directly or reflectively in opposition to all that is near and dear unto him variously assaulting 1. His Deity which the Arrians and Sabellians blasphemously denied making him but a Deus factus and the Socinians after them following therein both the Socinus's Uncle and Nephew whose Italian Venom carried so much infection into Poland lately revived by too many among us as by Paul Best Biddle c. as it hath been scattered in Transilvania and Neighbouring parts by divers such Instruments Turks and Jewes agree with them therein For the prevention and cure of this deadly plague spiritual growth in the Grace and Knowledge of Christ will be a special Antidote faithfully improved fortifying your soul with his Truth making you to feel the Power of his Godhead through the beam of that Sun of Righteousness Reason and Experience thus spiritualized will demonstrate to you and to others by you the Record which God bears of his Son in whom dwels the fulness of the Godhead bodily or essentially as the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 imports The same Titles and Attributes the same Worship and works ascribed to God the Father are also ascribed to God the Son The wretched Arrians called Christ in scorn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a diminutive God and would grant him to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of a like substance but denied him to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the same substance Were he not God co-essential and co-eternal with the Father how could he be one with him as himself affirms How could he have made infinite satisfaction and procured infinite Salvation How could he have born Gods infinite wrath for his peoples sins What shall we think of those quaking Impostors that own no Christ above but what 's in them that renew the Ranters blasphemy of Gods being all things their being Christed c Do they not affront the God of Glory The God-head of Christ takes up man to God conveying from God all good through his Manhood There must be our strength against every sin that Christ our surety is the blessed God 2. His Humanity variously assaulted by Notionists of an old and new stamp by many Behmenists and the swarms of Quakers who have con'd too much of their mysterious absurdities This poison once got into mens Brains casts them into strange dreams about Christs manhood which they fancy to have been but a fiction and figure a Phantasm and Apparition that vanished after a while to represent that within them which they call Christ To repress those pestiferous fumes from intoxicating your head and heart your Antidote will inform your Judgement with the Truth and warm your heart with the substantial goodness of his human Nature It will shew you out of Scripture that he is truly the Son of man who took on him the seed of Abraham was made flesh in all things like to us except sin Without controversie Great is the Mysterie of Godliness God manifest in the flesh justified in the Spirit seen of Angels believed on in the world preached to the Gentiles received up into Glory Had he not been a real man how could he have suffered on his peoples behalf How could he have made his soul an offering for sin His sufferings were most real sure that forced from him such a bloody sweat in the open air of a cold season and that in the night that made him cry out so lamentably My God my God why hast thou forsaken me that spent him wholly to his last breath with a most
death was the complement and utmost His whole life was a continual passion and he was most active in his most passive Obedience He laid down his Life of himself-freely and shewed his active Power in his giving up the Ghost That perfection of his Merits excludes the least Ingrediency of mans Merits Our Obedience is required indeed and rewarded of Grace not for its worth or proportion The Childs duty is required not to merit his Inheritance by but to shew his Ingenuity The Beggars reaching of his hand is a condition yet no merit of the Gift 8. His Prophetical Charge is undermined First By the Errors forenamed Secondly By the Popish pretences of Infallibility in their Church Pope or Councel Thirdly By the immediate Revelations and infallible Oracles of Enthusiasts Quakers Behmenists pretending extraordinary acquaintance with God and Spirits besides above and against his Word Fourthly By the Perfectionists of divers sorts who pretend to a sinless state wherein they need no further teaching Fifthly By such as despise Christs Prophets and Apostles Pastors and Teachers extraordinary and ordinary Messengers of his AGainst such a disease improve this Antidote to vindicate the Lords Infallibleness and to detect the cheats of all Impostors pretending thereto You will see thereby that Christs Spirit alone is the supream infallible Judge speaking to us by his written word è Cathedra coeli That we need no other infallible Judge on earth That every Christian in his place whether private or publique Civil or Ecclesiastical hath a Judgement of discretion to regulate him in his own Acts by the Scripture Rule That Churches and Counsels have an Authoritative Judgement of direction to the several members under their respective Charges still in subordination to Christs writen Word That yet there is no need of any Infallible immediate and sinless assistance or spirit in any mortal man now since the Canon of Scripture our perfect Rule was compleated by John the Beloved Apostle That all pretenders to such infallibility since the Apostles days have successively bewrayed their notorious Impostures and contradictions both notionally and practically That Popish Bishops and Councils Enthusiastical Behmenists and Quakers have hitherto been found guilty of such absurd falshoods and blasphemous extravagancies that they sufficiently confute themselves That Paul himself after all his Raptures knew but in part complaining stil of his own and others weakness and insufficiency That Peter himself failed and was reproved by him openly That there is indeed a perfection of sincerity and Truth begun below in the Regenerate and a perfection of Growth which is comparative progressive But that a sinless perfection of fulness is reserved for the Glory of Heaven not enjoyed before mans dissolution That Christ therefore is the grand Prophet who teaches his people stil by his Word and Spirit the Will of God for their Salvation gradually That being taught all needful things by his Anointing who writes his Law upon their heart they need not to be taught by any Sect-master in a Pharisaical way so as to pin their faith upon any mans sleeve upon his own credit but must attend Christ who teaches from Heaven by men and Means That no meer mans word is to be believed upon his own credit but that all Doctrines must be examined by the Scriptural Teachings of Christ That those spirits and persons who pretend to bring Infallible Oracles and a new Gospel are cursed of the Apostle for shaking off Christ and his Gospel That all Christs servants are to be heard so far as they keep to his scriptural Commission but no further That Christ himself is received or rejected so far as his Embassadors following his Instruction are owned or slighted It s the common and ominous Symptom of Error to despise the Ministers of Christ though Godly and Learned and prefer their own Imaginations before the plain Word of God The Gospel is to us the only Glass of Heaven wherein the Glorious Revelations of Gods Image are made out to transform us into the likeness thereof gradually through his Spirit 9. The Kingship of Christ is much abused 1. by the Errors forenamed 2. By Libertines and Ranters of all sorts 3. By the Pontifician Supremacy pretended to be over all things and persons in the Pope as Peters Successor 4. By Quakers and others slighting the Christ above under pretence of a Christ within 5. By sensual pretenders and abusers of a fifth Monarchy Against these Rebellious Tenets the Grace and Knowledge of Christ will satisfie us that Christ Jesus is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords who must Reign even in the midst of all enemies till they be made his footstool That he will destroy all such who refuse to stoop to his Golden Scepter but chuse to live in the kingdom of Darkness under the Rule of sin and Satan That Conscience is his seat Royal in mans soul which is by Sin Satan and self usurped from him That he will surely recover his Right if not in mercy yet in his just wrath That pretence of conscience to shake off his Rule is the highest Treason under his Pavilion That to shelter any sin or Error under that covert is but to cloath Traytors in his robes of state That he will not save where he doth not Rule and will not be our Priest if he be not our King That to desire or plead Liberty to sin is to set up Hell in Rule among men under the habit of Heaven That the more of Christ is in any soul the more obedience in true faith and Love is given to him That to set up a Pope or any other meer man for a supream Head over the conscience is to set up a sinful wretch in the Throne of Christ That his Jealousie will not endure long such a Rebellion That Peter never had any Supremacy of Power or Authority what ever priority of Order and Age may be granted by some That Peters being at Rome is very uncertain and yet to be proved though many affirm it That if his being there were fully granted yet his fixed charge and continuance there shall need as much proof That upon supposal of his setling there yet must it be shewed that he acted there such a Supremacy That if that also were clear it must be shewed also that his full power was made over to his successors there more then to any other Minister of Christ at Antioch or elsewhere That in case that should be proved likewise they must demonstrate a clear succession from that time till now which is impossible And if that could be yet they must evince their succession in Doctrine also else all the former will only prove Papacy to be the Man of Sin got into Gods Temple the grand Antichrist and the scarlet Whore riding on
Life a Turning of men from darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to God by opening of their eyes and renewing their Will It s expressed by taking away the heart of stone and giving a heart of flesh in putting his Spirit within us and giving a new heart and a new spirit in our special effectual Calling It s said to be our Regeneration and being born again absolutely needful to open an entrance into Gods Kingdom Though there be some Reliques of natural and moral Endowments left in men since the fall in their powers and parts as appears by the Heathens Improvements yet these only testifie the wofulness of mans desperate fall in ruining so glorious a Fabrick Thence the blindness and perversness of his mind and will are so aggravated the crooked distortions of his Affections the searedness and corruption of his Conscience with the disorder of every part are set forth so Emphatically to convince every man Thence men are said before Conversion to be Godless and hopeless because Christless Thence is the wonderful operation of Renewing Grace so extolled still in this new creation bringing forth Light out of darkness in making man partaker of the Divine Nature This supernatural Work is carried on rationally by the Spirit of Christ in a way suitable to mans rational Being He works strongly yet sweetly he opens their heart-springs with a special Key of his own framing This Renewing Grace runs parallel with the Fathers Electing and the Sons Redeeming Grace whom God did foreknow and predestinate those he calls effectually seasonably savingly Their corrupt nature doth much resist it till Grace prevails and conquers all its Forts The outworks of the Mind and Judgement Christs Spirit conquers first thence breaking through the Iron Gate of mans Will into the possession of all the powers and parts of the soul Many sins remain still in every part like so many Cananites and Tories to be gradually subdued These Rebels being broken in their Head and Reign Grace doth orderly dispatch by mortifying exercise The Spirit of Christ carries on his work in supporting and supplying still those gracious Beginnings which are weak at first By the Gospel Light he communicates his gracious Life Thus he perswades enables his people to embrace Jesus Christ upon Gospel terms by a Covenant of Marriage and Adoption Thus is mans dunghil heart by Renewing Grace broken up and dressed into a spiritual Garden sown and set with the fruits of his holy Spirit It differs exceedingly from common convictions and external Reformations as earth differs from Heaven That difference is still morally-specifical though it seems to be Physically but Numerical and gradual It s the same Spirit that works conviction on the Reprobate and on the Elect but not in the same manner He knocks at both and is resisted He leaves the Reprobate justly he opens the Elects heart mercifully and prevailingly The Reprobate may be externally and professedly sanctified in a partial superficial way Gods Elect are specially sanctified universally in every part and gradually through every part Mans free will by sin subjected to Satan is through this Renewing Grace set at liberty so far as Grace prevails The unregenerate is free only to spiritual evil being an enemy to spiritual good The Regenerate soul is so far free to spiritual good as it s renewed When Grace is compleated in Glory the soul like good Angels shall be free only to good The Nature of mans will is thus bettered by Grace which was made a slave by sin The Devils and damned do freely will sin so do unregenerate souls on earth yet necessarily Thus necessity man stand with freedom both to good and evil By this Renewing Grace the regenerate soul is made conformable to Gods Image and is so far called the new man and gradually learns to be holy as God is Holy That Seed and Root of Grace cast into it at first grows up by degrees as the grain of mustard seed as the corn as the Light as the living Child Thereby the soul is enabled to believe and Repent and further to actuate every sort of Grace being excited corroborated and directed still by the same Spirit Thence is the conflict so continuall between the spirit and flesh the Law in the members and the Law in the Mind Grace and sin which ends not till the death of sin in bodily death Thus acti agimus Implanted Grace then co-works still with the Lords gracious Spirit who works in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure This Grace appears also most free and full most choice sure to the glorifying of all Divine Attributes Man could not be conceived to have any skil power or will to procure the same By Grace the Lord cals unto Grace and so to Glory By Grace are we saved through Faith and that not of our selves it s the gift of God not of works least any man should boast for we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works so that it s not in him that wills nor in him that runs but in God who shews mercy Of his own will begat he us by the Word of Truth that we might be to the praise of his Glory Object But why then is man commanded to believe and repent to change his heart c Answ Because as we hinted before God deals with men by men rationally orderly to convince all of their Duty and insufficiency to humble and awaken them to put them upon all due means to render the most inexcusable and moralize many to convey his Grace into his Elect through those very means peculiarly sanctified to the spiritualizing of their heart Object But is not God partial in so doing Answ No. For he is not bound to any further then he pleases neither is he led by any sinful respects which render men partial Object But why doth he yet complain of the Reprobates if he give them not sufficient Grace as to others how can they help it Ans God justly complains of the wicked for insolvency and squandring away his goods wilfully and rebelliously both in their first Father and by themselves They smart not but for their fault their being Bankrupts is no payment nor discharge of their debts to him He gives them more then they could expect or make right use of Though they cannot change their own heart yet they might use the means better then they do they are still wilfully negligent and selfish in all they do and suffer justly for their demerits Can the wicked say they sin not wilfully Will not their own conscience condemn them Are they not all corruptly estranged from the womb and speaking Lyes by time Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean Can the